Suspect Arrested In White House Shooting

By: Markette Smith
November 16, 2011

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U.S. Park Police

Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, 21, has been arrested in connection with the shooting at the White House last week. He has been the primary suspect since police found his vehicle abandoned shortly after the incident.

Update 2:00 p.m.: Suspect Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, suspect in the shooting at the White House last week, has been taken into custody. According to the Secret Service, he was arrested today around 12:35 p.m. at a hotel in Pennsylvania by a Pennsylvania state trooper.

Reports indicate that Ortega-Hernandez has a history of some minor arrests in Texas, Idaho and Utah, but there are currently no links to radical organizations.

Original Story: The U.S. Secret Service has brought in the FBI , BATF, Park and Metropolitan Police for an investigation into a shooting at the White House, after it was found that a bullet hit an exterior window of the building, stopped only by bullet-proof glass. An additional round from what authorities are calling an assault rifle was found on the grounds at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

The incident happened at about 9:30 p.m. last Friday, when witnesses reported shots fired near the White House around 16th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW. Shortly afterward, investigators found an abandoned vehicle near the Roosevelt Bridge. Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle's driver get out and run across the bridge toward Arlington. Soon after, agents recovered an assault rifle, but no one was arrested.

U.S. Park Police have issued an arrest warrant for Oscar Ortega-Hernandez, who is believed to be connected to the incident. He is "described as a 21-year-old Hispanic man, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 160 pounds, with a medium build, brown eyes and black hair."

A spokesman for the Secret Service, Edwin Donovan, declined to answer additional questions about the incident, including the caliber of the recovered bullets or what room of the White House was behind the window that was hit, citing an ongoing criminal investigation.

Neither President Obama nor first lady Michelle Obama were in the White House at the time.

The discovery follows reports of gunfire near the White House on Friday night. Witnesses heard shots and saw two speeding vehicles in the area. An assault rifle was also recovered.

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